EMERGING PHOTOGRAPHERS

My first time...

October 13, 2012

David J. Carol

&COPY;DAVID J. CAROL

I remember the first time I thought, this is it, I'm a professional photographer. I was in my 20s on one of my first truly exotic assignments. I had just spent the last day and a half getting to the northern tip of Baffin Island in the high arctic of Canada. The last 7 hours of the journey on a cargo/passenger plane. We had reached my final destination, Pond Inlet, a small community at the top of Baffin. It hit me as the crew threw my bright orange river bag out of the cargo hold of the plane on to the frozen tarmac... There I was all alone, it was around -40C and a little windy. I stood there staring at my bag, smelling the arctic air while I waited for my guide to come get me. I think I stood there about 10 minutes looking out at the barren terrain when it struck me..."This is the deal, I'm doing it, I'm a professional photographer. I wonder if this guy is ever gonna come get me, its friggin cold." He did...I went back 7 more times, but the first time was the "Moment"!